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REV. F. J. F. SCHANTZ, D. D. 




jAllentown Jeminar 
1848 



Semi-Centennial Celebration 



OF 



THE HISTORICAL ORIGIN 



OF 



MUHLENBERG COLLEGE, 



On the College Campus, June 2^rd, 1898. 



ALT^ENTOWN, PA. : 

PUBLISHBD BY MUHLENBERG COLLEGE. 






3^ 



10900 

ORDER OF EXERCISES. 



CONCERT BY THE ALLENTOWN BAND. 

Chairman, President T. L. Seip, D. D. 

Prayer Rev. Jos. A. Seiss, D. D., LL. D., L. H. D. 

Historical Address Rev. F. J. F. Schantz, D. D. 

Greetings from the Theological Seminary, Mt. Airj% Philadelphia. 

Rev. Prof. J. Fr.y, D. D. 

Greetings from The Ministerium of Pennsylvania Rev. S. Laird, D. D., President. 

Greetings from the former Principal of the Alleutown Seminary, 

Rev. W. R. Hofford, D. D. 

Commnnications from former Students Read by Rev. C. J. Cooper, A. M. 

Benediction by the first pupil of the Allentown Seminary Rev. F. Berkemeyer. 




o 



■am 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 

REV. F. J. F. SCHANTZ, D. D. 



"As Americans, we rejoiced in ob~ 
serving the quarto-centennial of the 
discovery of this western hemisphere; 
asPennsylvanians, we cheerfully joined 
in the festivities of the bi-centennial 
of our great commonwealth; as de- 
scendants of noble colonists, we gladly 
participated in the centennial of the 
Declaration of Independence; as citi- 
zens of the great republic, we hailed 
the day on which the centennial of the 
inauguration of the first President of 
the United States filled many hearts 
with gratitude to God; as Christians, 
we annually commemorate the great 
events in the life of the Incarnate Son 
of God, the Savior of the World; as 
Protestants, we observe with deep in- 
terest the jubilees and centennials of 
the great Reformation of the sixteenth 
century; as pastors and members of 
congregations in this western world, 
we never fail to take an interest in 
the various festivals that commemo- 
rate the organization of congregations 
and the formation of ministeriums, 
synods and general ecclesiastical 
bodies. We cannot refrain from com- 
mending the custom that is becoming 
yearly more general, of having great 
reunions of families, at which the an- 
cestors, who came from the old father- 
land and settled in this country are 
not forgotten and the history of fami- 
lies descended from them is most care- 
fully traced. Whilst the family, the 
State and the church are Important 
factors in the life of the individual and 
those of common parentage, the pros- 
perity of the commonwealth and the 
republic and the growth of the king- 
dom of our blessed Lord, we must not 
ignore the existence, the importance 
and influence of educational institu- 
tions and ever recognize as true that 
when proper schools are neglected the 
fa.mily, the state and the church must 
and will suffer. 

"No apology need be offered for- the. 
observance of the semi-centennial of 
the first occupancy of the grounds of 
Muhlenberg College for educational 
purposes. Some of us had the pleasure 



of attending, in 1858, the decennial of 
the Allentown Seminary opened here 
in May, 1848. Many were present at 
the quarter centennial festivities in 
1S7.3. The great reunion at the quarter 
centennial of Muhlenberg College in 
1892, was an occasion of great joy to 
the many, who participated in the 
same. Well might the pupils of the 
earlier years wonder whether they 
would be spared to unite with the 
students of subsequent years in the 
observance of the semi-centennial. The 
honor of the appointment to deliver 
the address on this joyful, interesting 
and profitable occasion is greatly ap- 
preciated. It is not necessary to pre- 
sent to-day in an extended address the 
full history of the schools conducted 
here in the past 50 years. The histori- 
cal address delivered at the quarter- 
centennial celebration on June 25th, 
1873, was published in a large supple- 
ment of the Daily News, of Allentown, 
and covered more than 10 columns. 
The histO'ry of Lehigh and Carbon 
Counties, published in 1884, contains 
an extenisive article on Muhlenberg 
College, furnished by the worthy presi- 
dent of the college, the Rev. Dr. T. L. 
Seip. The Memorial Volume prepared 
by the Rev. Dr. S. E. Ochsenford and 
published in 1892, in which year the 
quarter centennial of Muhlenberg Col- 
lege was celebrated, contains a full 
history of the institution to the year 
1892. The "Jubilee" published by the 
Jubilee Committee of the Ministerium 
of Pennsylvania, in connection with 
the observance of the sesqui-centennial 
of the Ministerium in this year, con- 
tains a valuable history of the insti- 
tution, prepared by the Rev. Dr. Seip, 
and has been placed with many fam- 
ilies. 

"Kow then shall the duty with which 
the 'speaker has been intrusted be dis- 
charged on this occasion ? Some years 
ago a gentleman remarked that he had 
heard a lecture on Martin Luther, de- 
livered by a celebrated doctor of 
divinity and heard nothing new ! That 
remark has not been forgotten and has 
led to the question whether our jubi- 



Historical Address. 



lees, centennials and quarto-centen- 
nials are for the purpose of saying 
something new, or for the purpose of 
■ impressing properly on the minds of 
all that which is true. Some of us 
here to-day had the pleasure of resid- 
ing- at Allentown already in April, 
184S. My home was previous to that 
time- at tihe head of Cedar Creek. We 
had good public and private schools. 
My sainted mother Avas anxious to 
locate at Allentown to afford her 
younger sons the opportunity of at- 
tending schools of a higher grade. I 
shall never forget the greetings I re- 
ceived from the good town boys, who, 
as I was then not even as tall as I am 
now, feared no danger, when they 
called me 'buschknippel.' 

"Allentown, now the queen city of 
ths Lehigh Valley with a population of 
more than 35,000, had then about 3,700 
inhabitants. It was an inland country- 
town, with Court House and jail. It 
then had one Lutheran, one Reformed, 
one Presbyterian, one Methodist Epis- 
copal and one Evangelical Church. 
Thr- Allentown Academy, chartered in 
1814, and in actual existence since 1819, 
and in the building at the northwest 
corner of Eighth and Walnut Streets 
since 1827, was then in charge of com- 
petent instructors. Prof. R. C. Chand- 
ler was then the principal. The Fe- 
male Seminary in the south building 
of the Homeopathic College, on Penn 
Street, was in charge of the widow of 
the lamented Rev. Andrew Young. 
Mr James Lee had a good private 
school on Union Street, below Eighth. 
Public schools were held in the large 
temperance building on Union Street 
and in other buildings in other parts of 
the to"wn. The medical and legal fra- 
ternities were fully and ably repre- 
sented. Allentown had a number of 
public houses, stores and workshops 
for various artisans. In 1848, the town 
had no railroad. Stages reached Al- 
lentown daily from the four points of 
the compass. In summer, merchandise 
was shipped and received by means of 
the Lehigh Canal; in winter, by means 
of large freight wagons. The town 
had then no telegraph and no illumi- 
nating gas. It was well favored by the 
publicati(in of good German and Eng- 
lish weekly papers. Rev. S. K. 



Brobst, of blessed memory, had al- 
ready in 1847, commenced the publica- 
tion of the Jugend-Freund. Daily 
papers were received froim Philadel- 
phia. 

"Some of us here to-day, witnessed 
on Ascension Day, June 1st, 1848, the 
great fire at Allentown, which de- 
stroyed all the buildings fronting on 
the north side of Hamilton Street, be- 
tween Seventh and Eighth Streets, 
and nearly all the buildings on the 
south side of Hamilton Street, between 
the same streets, and a number of 
buildings in other parts of the town. 
The afternoon of June 1st, 1848, and the 
night that followed will never be for- 
gotten. Great was the destruction of 
property and great the distress that 
was brought to many families. The 
fire started in the afternoon. Our 
home was on South Seventh Street. 
Residents on South Seventh Street, 
fearing the destruction of their dwell- 
ings, were busily engaged in removing 
the contents. I well remember a gen- 
tleman. Who appeared in front of our 
home and not only expressed his deep- 
est sympathy, but also offered a room 
in his residence to store valuable 
articles and to share the comforts of 
his home. That gentleman was the 
Rev. Christian Rudolph Kessler, the 
founder of the Allentown Seminary. I 
have no recollection of having seen 
Rev. Mr. Kessler before that after- 
neon. I had soon occasion to go to 
Livingstone Mansion, the stately his- 
torir- building, in former days the home 
of the Livingstone family, and in more 
recent years the home of prominent 
Allentown families. I well remember 
the stone wall that extended along 
Walnut Street, from Fifth Street to the 
Jordan, the beautiful park north and 
the magnificent lawn south of the 
mar-"Sion. 

"Here a good work was begun on 
May 1, 1848, the day on which Allen- 
town Seminary was opened by Rev. 
Christian Rudolph Kessler, of the Re- 
formed Church. Whilst the mansion 
afforded ample accommodations for a 
school of higher grade — a teachers' 
seminary, the worthy founder met with 
great disappointment. Proper patron- 
age was wanting. The school opened 
with four pupils and closed its 'first 



Historical Address. 



term of five months with eleven stu- 
dents, four of whom had come to pre- 
pare for teaching. Had the founder 
not been a man of faith and earnest 
prayer he would have succumbed be- 
fore the close of the first term. The 
cry was heard 'Kessler's school will 
not set the Lehig-h on fire' — and yet 
those wTio spoke thus proved to be 
false prophets. Whilst the original 
feature of the school was retained it 
waff soon announced as a classical 
school for boarders and day scholars. 
At the end of the third term, in Sep- 
tember, 1S49, a catalogue was printed. 
It contained the names of 32 students. 
In the spring of 18.50, the long stone 
building of one story, east of the man~ 
sion, commonly called Trout Hall, was 
refitted and arranged for a school 
room. At the opening of the next 
term. May 1, 1850, there was a large 
increase of students. A number of 
academy students had already, in the 
winter of 1849-50, entered the school 
with me. In this summer, the heart of 
the principal was cheered and the suc- 
cess of the school secured. The cata- 
logue of 1850-51 reported an attendance 
of 80 students. Such, then, was the 
beginning of the institution founded 
May 1, 1848, which continued to grow 
until 19 years thereafter it became 
Muhlenberg College, which held its 
thirty-first commencement to-day. 

"And now as we endeavor to re- 
view the history of the institution in 
these 50 years, we may properly refer 
firs'' to the changes and improvements 
of the property. The parlor of Living- 
stone Mansion was used as the school 
room and an adjoining- room on the 
north side as a recitation room from 
May 1, 1848, to March 31, 1850. In May, 
1850, Trout Hall was used as a school 
room and one room in the mansion as 
a recitation room. Boarders were ac- 
commodated in the mansion, the resi- 
dence of the principal. In the fall 
of 1851, the west wing of the college, 
erected in the summer of 1851. was first 
occupied by three departments, the 
primary and the academic for males, 
and the female which was opened in 
the fall of 1851, as Mrs. Young had 
closed her school. In the summer of 
1854, the central building of four 
stories was erected and Livingstone 



Mansion was raised to three stories. 
At the opening of the first scholastic 
year of Muhlenberg College in Septem- 
ber, 1867, the cornerstone of the new 
building was laid and the building sub- 
sequently completed. Many changes 
have since been made on the buildings 
and on the grounds — the results of 
which former students readily ob- 
seive. Those who were students in old 
Trout Hall would be glad to see it to- 
day. It would revive many pleasant 
m'emiories. The old students baVe, 
however, lost less than was gained by 
its removal in improvements of the 
property. 

"The changes in the name of the in- 
stitution are evidence of changes of the 
character of the institution. The 
school was named 'Allentown Semi- 
nary' from 1848 to 1864 in the time ot 
the great Civil TVar. From 1864 to 
1865. it bore the name of 'Allentown 
Collegiate and Military Institute.'From 
1865 to 1867, it bore the name of 'Mili- 
tary and Collegiate Institute, Allen- 
town, Pa.,' and since 1867, it bears the 
name 'Muhlenberg College." 

"The friends of the institution were 
at first comparatively few in number, 
but increased with the growth of the 
school. Rev. S. K. Brobst, through his 
whole life as warm a friend as the 
Pennsylvania Germans ever had or 
maj have now, had influenced Rev. 
Mr. Kessler to come to Allentown to 
open a school. Christian Pretz and 
Henry TVeinsheimer, the owners of the 
valuable property, proved to be warm 
friends of the institution and readily 
made all the improvements in prop- 
erty as the same became necessary be- 
fore it became the property of Muhlen- 
berg College. Ministers and laymen 
of the various churches were early 
friends of the institution. To-day we 
must not forget the many patrons who 
senr their sons from 1848 to 1898 and 
those who sent their daughters from 
1851 to 1867 to this school. The gentle- 
men who served as trustees after a 
charter had been secured for the Col- 
leg,'ate and Military Institute rendered 
valuable services. The gentlemen who 
served as a committee to secure sub- 
scriptions for stocks and the sub- 
scribers for the stock to secure the 
purchase of the valuable property — 



lO 



Historical Address. 



when a full college was to be es-tab- 
llshed— must be remembered to-day. 
The services of those who served as 
trustees of Muhlenberg Colleg-e, the 
surrender of stocks by almost all of 
the stockholders to the Ministerium of 
Pernsylvania, the purchase of scholar- 
ships by numerous parties, the large 
and liberal contributions of many 
friends towards the endowment of the 
college, and current expenses of the 
same, the annual appropriation by the 
Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of 
Pennsylvania and direct contributions 
of congregations, members and friends 
tov.-ards the support of the institution 
deserve special mention on this occa- 
sion. 

"The eminent instructors of the in- 
stitution in these 50 years, the simple 
mention of whose names is sufficient 
to recall their valuable services, were 
the following: Rev. Christian Rudolph 
Kessler, A. M., was the founder and 
principal of Allentown Seminary from 
184S to 1855. He was assisted by 
Messrs. John Weik, Wm. J. Marx, J. 
B. Evans, C. L. Lochman, Rev. F. J. 
Mohr, Prof. C. F. Wullf, Prof. Fr. R. 
Gerlac'h, Thomas J. Gross, Prof. C. F. 
Herrman, Rev. J. L. Kessler, D. D., 
Rev. J. Riale, Prof. C. V. Mays and 
Misses Eveline Black, Melvina Stan- 
ton. M. Wilson. L. J. Boyd and Mrs. 
TST. Vogelbach. On account of impaired 
"health. Principal Kessler Avas obliged 
to cease his labors in 1855 and on 
March 4, 1855, he departed this life 
aged only 32 years and 11 days. Many 
tears were shed on the occasion of his 
iDurial, at which the Rev. J. S. Dubs, 
X». D., and the Rev. Henry Harbaugh, 
D. D., preached the sermons. Those, 
who were students T^ath me, in his con- 
nection with the institution will say 
with me as I said at the quarter-cen- 
tennial in 1873: 'The school at Allen- 
town continues a lasting monument to 
his ability, his devotion to his call- 
ing, his self-denying labors and his 
triumphs of faith in his blessed Lord.' 

"Rev. Wm. N. Reynolds, D. D., of 
the Lutheran Church, was the princi- 
pal of the Allentown Seminary from 
1855, previous to the death of Rev. Mr. 
Kessler to September, 1857. In these 
years, he was ably assisted by the fol- 
low ing instructors: Rev. J. S. Kess- 



ler, D. D., Rev. J. Riale, Prof. Luther 
H. Croll, Prof. E. J. Koons, Mons. J. 
Germain Anglade, Mrs. R. M. Eyster, 
Mrs. N. Vogelbach, and Misses M. J. 
Green, Catharine J. Reynolds, Ade- 
laide S. Richards and a lady w*hose 
na.me is not rememibered. In the fall 
of 1857, Rev. Dr. Reynolds accepted 
the presidency of the Illinois State 
University at Springfield, 111. 

"Rev. Wm. Phillips, A. M., of the 
Reformed Church, became the princi- 
pal at the opening of the winter term, 
Nov. 1, 1857, and continued in the posi- 
tion to the close of the winter term, 
March 26, 1859. His co-laborers in in- 
struction in these years were: Rev. J. 
S. Kessler, D. D., Rev. W. R. Hofford, 
A. M., Rev. Joshua Derr. Prof. C. F. 
Herrmann, Mons, J. Germain Anglade, 
tlie late Capt. Jeremiah P. Schindel, of 
the LT. S. A., and Misses S. A. Barrett 
and Laura P. Hill. At the close of 
the winter term, March 26, 1858, the 
first decade celebration of the Allen- 
town Seminary was suitably observed 
in the Reformed Church. 

"In the spring of 1859, Rev. W. R. 
Hcftord, A. M., of the Reformed 
Church, a student of the Allentown 
Seminary from the spring of 1850 to 
the fall of 1853, a graduate of Frank- 
lin and Marshall College, an assist- 
ant Instructor of Rev. Mr. Phillips, be- 
came the principal of the seminary. 
He continued as principal to the close 
of the winter term in March, 1864. This 
was a critical period in the history of 
the institution, the effects of the finan- 
cial crisis of 1857-58 were still felt and 
the war of the Rebellion opened in 1861 
and continued during his connection 
with the seminary. The associate in- 
structors in these years were the fol- 
lowing: Rev. Dr. Kessler, Rev. Joshua 
Derr, H. LaRue, John Sykes, Prof. 
C. F. Herrmann, D. F. Schoedler, P. 
Williard, A. M., T. Kessler and Misses 
A. E. Avery, Maria Zerfass, Sarah 
Hughes and Olivia Mease. 

"In 1864, the name of the institution 
was changed to the 'Allentown Col- 
legiate and Military Institute' and 
chartered with collegiate powers and 
privileges by the legislature of Penn- 
sylvania, March, 1864. The board of 
trustees consisted of 17 members: Hon. 
S. A. Bridges, president; Col. Henry 
C. Longnecker, vice president; Jacob 



Historical Address. 



II 



•S. Dillinger, Esq., secretary; Wm. S. 
Young-, Esq., treasurer: Hon. R. E. 
Wright, Hon. J. D. Stiles, C. Pretz, 
Thomas Jacoby, Charles W. Cooper, 
John H. Oliver, Henry Weinsheimer, 
Geo. P. Weil, John D. Lawall, Wm. H. 
Blumer, Thomas B. "V\"ilson, Boas 
H^ausman and Charles Kramer. The 
following constituted the faculty: Rev. 
M. L,. Hofford, A. M., president: Rev. 
Wm. R. Hofford, A. M., vice president: 
Rev. J. S. Kessler. D. D., Edward 
Brodie Glosgow, G. A. Aschbach. Hon. 
Robert E. Wright, Miajor G. Ecken- 
dorff, Prof. C. F. Herrmann, Joel J. 
Horrister and Ohas. H. Asay. The cir- 
cular of 1865-66 shows to what extent 
the institution had become a military 
academy for the title had become 
^Military and Collegiate Institute, Al- 
"lentown. Pa.' Rev. M. L. Hofford con- 
tinued as president and the names ot 
the following instructors appear in the 
circular of 1865-66: Rev. E. J. Koons, 
A. M., Rev. M. H. Richards, A. M., 
Rev. G. A. Hinterleiter, Rev. J. W. 
Wood, A. iVI., George Herman Rupp, P. 
H. Hutchings, W. W. Johnson. A. 
Spangler and S. Hughes. The female 
department was continued but the 
names of the female students do not 
appear in the catalogue. Was this 
omission owing to the reason that the 
tit'e of the institution should then have 
"been Military and Collegiate Institute 
and Female Seminary, Allentown, Pa.? 

"Rev. M. L. Hofford, A. M., president, 
resigned in the spring of 1867. The in- 
•stitution was continued until June 16, 
186", when it was closed as the Allen- 
town Collegiate and Military Institute. 
The first board of trustees of Muhlen- 
l3cr£- College was elected by the stock- 
holdrs on Feb. 2, 1867. The following 
were the first trustees: Hon. R. E. 
^Vright, Rev. E. J. Koons, A. M., 
Jonathan Reichard, M. H. Horn, C. W. 
Cooper, Wm. Saeger, "W. H. Blumer, 
C. Pretz, E. J. Saeger, B. F. Trexler, 
"Rev. Wm. Rath. Rev. S. K. Brobst, 
Itev. J. Yeager, Rev. F. J. F. Schantz, 
Lewis Klump, E. S. Shimer, Henry 
Weinsheimer and Samuel McHose. The 
"beard met soon after their election and 
after proper organization elected the 
Tlev. F. A. Muhlenberg, D. D., presi- 
dent of the college, which received the 
name of Muhlenberg College in honor 



of the memory of Patriarch Henry 
Melchior Muhlenberg. The acceptance 
of the call by Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg 
gave great joy to all interested in the 
institution. The board of Muhlenberg 
College had charge of institution from 
April to June 16, 1867, but continued the 
course of instruction of the Collegiate 
Institute. The instructors from April 
to June, 1867, were Rev. E. J. Koons, A. 
M.. vice president of Muhlenberg Col- 
lege, Rev. "W. R. Hofford, A. M.. Rev. 
S. Phillips, A. M., T. L. Seip, 
A M., Mr. J. H. Brown and 
Miss A. Merriman. "With the close 
of the Collegiate Institute in June, 
1867, the female department was dis- 
continued in view of the change from 
collegiate institute to a regular college 
and in view of the superior advan- 
tages afforded in distinct female col- 
leges. 

"At the meeting of the Ministerium 
of Pennsylvania in 1867, the following 
were elected trustees: Rev, J. A. Seiss, 
D. D., Rev. G. F. Miller, A. M.. A. W. 
Potteiger, Rev. W. J. Eyer, B. F. Trex- 
ler and Lewis Klump. Rev. F. A. 
Muhlenberg, D. D., as president of the 
college, became ex-officio president of 
the board of trustees according to the 
provisions of the charter. Muhlenberg 
College was formally opened in Sep- 
tembr, 1867. The inauguration of the 
faculty took place in the Court House 
on September 3, and the laying of the 
cornerstone of the addition to the col- 
lege building on the following day. In 
these 31 years, the college has had as 
professors and instructors men of 
character, scholarship, ability and con- 
stant devotion to their work, of whom 
any educational institution could have 
been proud. 

"Its first president, the Rev. F. A. 
Muhlenberg, D. D.. came not as a 
novice. His long and varied experi- 
ence as an instructor in Frank- 
lin College at Lancaster and as 
a professor in Pennsylvania College at 
Gettysburg had fitted him for the im- 
portant position to which he was 
called. He made a great sacrifice in 
becoming the president of our college 
at its beginning, his labors were ardu- 
ous, his trials were many, but his suc- 
cess in laying a good foundation and 
building securely and successfully on 
the same, will ever endear him to 



12 



Historical Address. 



those interested in the welfare of the 
institution. We regret that on account 
of bodily infirmities the beloved octo- 
genarian is not able to be with us to- 
day. His deep interest in the college 
continues unabated. The call of Dr. 
Muhlenberg to the University of Penn- 
sylvania was a high honor to Muhlen- 
berg College. 

"The second president of the college, 
the Rev. Benjamin Sadtler, D. D., 
1877-1885, a man of superior attain- 
mer^ts, for many years the faithful 
pastor of congreg-ations, the warm sup- 
porter of educational interests, for 
many years the principal of a female 
college and the president elect of Penn- 
sylvania College, entered upon his of- 
fice also well fitted for the arduous and 
responsible position of a president of 
a college. Under his administration, 
the college continued to prosper and 
all regreitted his resignation owing to 
bodily infirmities, the effects of in- 
juries received by a fall on ice in the 
winter of 1884. His interest in the wel- 
fare of the institution continues un- 
changed and his services are gratefully 
remembered by all. 

"The third and present president of 
the college, Rev. Theodore L. Seip, D. 
D., entered upon the duties of the 
presidency in 1886. When in the spring 
of 1S60, I entertained in the parsonage 
at Reading two students bound for 
their respective homes, one the la- 
mented Rev. Jacoto B. Rath, of blessed 
memory, then a student in the Theo- 
logical Seminary at Gettysburg, and 
the other a young man still connected 
with the preparatory department of 
Pennsylvania College, I had as one of 
mj' guests the future third president 
of Muhlenberg College. Dr. Seip'a 
thorough preparation by taking a full 
course in the college at Gettysburg, 
and the three years' course in the 
Theological Seminary then in Phila- 
delphia, his knowledge of men gained 
whilst a soldier and later whilst in the 
service of the United States Christian 
Mission, his experience gained as a 
teacher during his theological course, 
hiv; connection with Muhlenberg Col- 
lege from the very beginning, his ex- 
perience as the principal of the pre- 
paratory department and later as the 
incumbent of various chairs in the col- 



lege, his eminent services in securing 
endowments for the institution and his 
thorough knowledge of all the varied 
wants of a Christian college, pre-emi- 
nently fitted him for the position, which 
he has filled so well for more than 12^ 
years. We also have reason to re- 
joice in view of the services rendered 
by him and the success which has 
marked the institution in these years. 
The recognition of his ability and ser- 
vices by the state, by educational in- 
stitutions of highest rank and by the 
church also, should lead all of us to 
pray that he may for many years to 
come continue to be the president of 
Muhlenberg College. 

"Whilst a student at college, I had 
the pleasure of hearing the Rev. Dr. 
Kiotel, then pastor of Trinity Church 
at Lancaster, deliver a discourse in 
which he showed that the great Re- 
former of the sixteenth century had 
as co-laborers eminent scholars and 
able instructors and that as little as 
Napoleon could have gained his 
victories without the aid of his mar- 
shals and Washington secured the de- 
livery of the Colonists from the 
tyranny of the British ruler without 
the aid of his able generals, so little 
could the great Reformer have suc- 
ceeded in his great work by the bless- 
ing of God, without the help of his 
eminent co-latoorers. Thus we must 
also remember the labors of the as- 
sociate professors and instructors in 
the college in the past 31 years, with- 
out whose aid the three successive 
presidents of the college could not 
have made Muhlenberg College "R*at it 
has been and what it is to-day. Of 
those who were professors and instruc- 
tors, the following have departed this 
life: Davis Garber.Ph. D., Rev. Reuben 
Hill, D. D.. Rev. E. J. Koons, A. M., 
Rev. George F. Miller, A. M., Rev. 
Samuel Phillips, A. M.. Rev. Jacob B. 
Rath, A. M.. Rev. Hans Nikolaus Ries, 
Rev. B. W. Sc'hmauk, A. M., Rev. 
Nero Strassberger, D. D., and T. C. 
Teager, M. D. The following are still 
living, but no longer connected with 
the college: Rev. J. F. Fahs, "Wm. 
Herbst, M. D., Rev. Wm. R. Hofford. 
D. D., Rev. Frederick W. Notz, Ph. 
D., E. F. Smith, Ph. D., Rev. G. F. 
Spieker, D. D., N. W. Thomas, Ph. D.,. 
and Rev. R. F. Weidner, D. D. 



Historical Address. 



13 



"The following- are the present mem- 
bers of the faculty and instructors: 
Re\. Theodore L. Seip, D. D., presi- 
dent; Rev. Matthias H. Richards, D. 
D., Rev. Wm. Wackernag'el.D. D., Rev. 
John A. Bauman, Ph. D., George T. 
Ettinger, Ph. D., Philip Dowell, A. M., 
Ph. B., Rev. Stephen A. Repass, D. D., 
Rev Jacob Steinhaeuser, Henry H. 
Herbst, A. M., M. D., and Roderick E. 
Albright, A. M., M. D., (Instructor). 

"Since the opening of Muhlenberg 
College in 1867, the academic depart- 
ment, the design of which is to pre- 
pare students for college, for teaching, 
for business, as well as to give them 
the practical education and culture for 
the various pursuits of life, has had the 
following principals: Rev. T. L. Seip, 
D. D., 1867-73: Rev. George F. Miller, 
A. M., 1873; William A. Beates, A. M., 
1873-78; Rev. A. R. Home, D. D., 1878- 
83: Rev. John'Kohler, D. D., 1883-85: 
George T. Ettinger, Ph. D., 1885-92; J. 
R. Merkel, A. M., and F. G. Lewis, A. 
M. These were ably assisted by com- 
petent instructors. 

"It is also proper to remember the 
services of those who served as officers 
of the board of trustees: Presidents 
of the board: Hon. R. E. Wright, 1867: 
Rev. F. A. Muhlenberg, D. D., 1867-76: 
Rev. William Rath, A. M., 1876-86: Rev. 
George F. Spieker, D. D., 1886, and 
Rev. S. A. Repass, D. D. Secretaries 
of the board: Rev. Edward J. Koons, 
A. M., 1867-69: Christian Pretz, 1869-74; 
Rev. Jacob D. Schindel, A. M., 1874-86; 
Rev. S. A. Ziegenfuss, D. D., since 
1886. Treasurers of the board: Jona- 
than Reichard, 1867-83; Rev. Reuben 
Hil], D. D., 1883-84; Rev. C. J. Cooper, 
A. M., also financial agent since 1886. 
What would the United States and the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania be 
without a secretary of the treasury ? 
and I may ask what would Muhlen- 
berg College be to-day without its 
present efficient treasurer and active 
■financial agent ? 

"But the chief glory of our educa- 
tional institution are not its buildings, 
not its names, not its patrons and bene- 
factors, not its trustees, not its pro- 
fessors and Instructors, but its stu- 
dents enrolled in the past 50 years and 
beiii'flted by the instruction received 
"Within its walls. The complete list 



of students from 1848 to 1867 would 
give nearly if not fully 1500 names. 
We regret that we do not have all the 
catalogues from 1848 to 1867. Those 
at our service present the following 
totals of attendance: 1848-1849, 32; 1850- 
1851, 80; 1851-1852, 128, (including female 
students); 1852-1853, 153; 1853-1854, 202; 
1855, 167; 1855-1856, 142 male students, 
58 female students, 200; 1857, no cata- 
logue: 1857-1858, 154 male students, 49 
female students, 203; 1859-1864, no cata- 
logues, decrease of students during 
war: 1865-1866, 201 maile students, fe- 
male students not given. 

"In 31 years, 436 young men have 
been graduated. The Memorial Vol- 
ume of 1892 contains the names of all 
who attended the colleg-iate and aca- 
dem.ic departments from 1867 to 1892 
and the number given to 1892 is 1465, 
the whole number to 1898 is 1771. These 
figures show that between 3,000 and 
4,000 students attended the institution 
in 50 years. 

"Who car? give a proper presentation 
of the blessings conferred by the edu- 
cational work at this place in the past 
50 years ? A good Christian education 
is the greatest blessing for the indi- 
vidual. Nothing on earth is to be 
compared with it. What is the posses- 
sion of great material riches if the pos- 
sessor Tie an ig^norant and unchristian 
man or woman. Our divine-human 
Savior asked 'What shall it profit a 
man if he sball gain the whole world 
and lose his own soul ?' What is a 
home, where parents and children are 
ignorant and ungodly ? Another wrote 
of home: 

With the same letter, heaven and home 
begin. 
And the words dwell together in the 
mind; 
For they who would a home in heaven 
win 
Must first a heaven in home begin 
to find. 
Be happy here, yet with a humble 
soul 
That looks for perfect happiness in 
heaven; 
For what thou hast is earnest of the 
whole 
Which to the faithful shall at last 
be given. 



H 



Historical Address. 



As once the patriarch, in a vision 

blessed, 
Saw the swift ang-els hastening- to 

and fro, 
And the lone spot whereon he lay to 

rest 
Became to him tihe gate of heaven 

below. 
So may to thee, when life itself is done. 
Thy home on earth and heaven above 

be one. 

"What will make our homes such 
happy homes, if the blessings of proper 
Christian education be wanting- ? 

"The blessings of a sound Christian 
education are also noticed in the busi- 
ness relations of men. The tiller of the 
soil, the artisan in his workshop, the 
superintendent and his employe in 
large manufactories, the merchant and 
the clerk in great business houses, 
the president and the watchman of the 
banking- house, the president of the 
railroad company and the flagman at 
the dangerous crossing, the attorney- 
at-law who is to aid men in securing 
their rights, the physician who minis- 
ters to s'ick and the trained nurse who 
watches by the bedside of the suffer- 
ing, the editor of the daily or weekly 
paper and the ever-busy reporter, men 
and women too in all the different 
lines of business prove to be the 
greater factors for good, when Christ- 
ian education has made them better 
men and women. 

"In the affairs of the commonwealth 
and the Republic in times of peace and 
in times of war the blessings of Christ- 
ian education are also of great value. 
In the various branches of national 
and state government, the lawmaker, 
the judge and the executive officer and 
the citizens who are intelligent and 
Christian are the men, through whom 
'God saves the Commionwealth.' The 
general, who not only plans cam- 
paigns, but also prays that God give 
success to the right, the soldier and 
sailor who have not only learned to 
fight but also to obey the great Cap- 
tain of Salvation, the men and women 
who serve in commissions of mercy 
and minister to the sick and wounded 
are all of greater service in so far as 
they are both intelligent and Christian. 
"The blessings of Christian education 



are also found in our educational in- 
stitutions. Allentown Seminary waa 
opened as a teachers' seminary in 184S. 
It was found necessary to enlarge its 
curriculum to meet other wants, so as 
to secure a liberal patronage. Did not 
the institution of various names from 
184S-1867 furnish many most excellent, 
teachers to public schools a.nd 
schools of a higher grade ? 
Has not Muhlenberg furnished 
mcny men who are to-day profes- 
sors in colleges, professors in theologi- 
cal seminaries and instructors in fine 
institutions of a lower grade. Have 
net the churches also been receiving 
the benefits of Christian education 
mpde possible at this place in the last 
50 years ? The minutes not only ot 
the synods of the Lutheran Church, 
but also the Reformed, the Presby- 
terian, the Evangelical and other 
churches contain the names of such as 
received their college training in this 
institution. Students of the institution 
before 1867 and graduates of Muhlen- 
berg minister to-day in all parts of our 
Republic and in foreign lands. The 
churches have not lost but gained by 
having a well educated ministry. When 
Muhlenberg College was opened in 186T 
we could still hear men boast that they 
could preach, although they had neve^ 
been within the walls of a college. Not 
long ago I heard a layman of a church, 
most of whose members, formerly 
spoke unkindly of college graduates, 
but most of whose members nov,' make 
every effort to have a good college, to 
train men for the ministry, say that he 
was amused by the remark of one 
of the old style of boasters, who de- 
clared that he was not in favor of col- 
lege graduation, that he could preach 
well, although he had never been 
graduated in a Geological Seminary ! 

"Let me encourage all who partici- 
pate in this semi-centennial celeibra- 
tioii to thank God for the institution 
that now numbers 50 years. We may 
truly say that God has favored the 
institution greatly. No fire has de- 
stroyed a building and no dissensions 
in the board, the faculty or the body 
of students have disgraced the institu- 
tion. To thank God for the advantages 
enjoyed by us. A large number never 
took a full college course, but were 



Historical Address. 



15 



fitted for many positions of usefulness. 
Many of us— students before 1S67— were 
prepared here to enter colleges in other 
localities. Since 1867, many enjoyed 
the advantages of the academic de- 
partment and then with others the full 
college course. 

"Continue to love our institution. 
Tiie man who turns against or ceases 
to love his God, his country, his home 
and his family is despised by all right 
thinking men and who has ever gained 
the respect of others by showing that 
he no longer loves his alma mater ? 
Resolve to do by prayer, speech and 
acts, whatever lies In the power of the 
individual to advance the interests of 
the institution, that future generations 
may also enjoy rich advantages. Re- 
member that the day may not be dis- 



tant when Muhlentoerg will move to 
have new buildings and an enlarged 
faculty. Allentown is the queen city 
of the Lehigh Valley, but why should 
thi.= great city of nearly 40,000 inhabi- 
tants allow Easton to point to the fine 
buildings of Lafayette College on Col- 
lege Hill and Bethlehem to the mag- 
nificent buildings of the Lehigh Uni- 
versity, without washing that Muhlen- 
berg College might also have build- 
ings that would add to the beauty and 
glory of the Queen City of the Valley. 
We trust that when Muhlenberg Col- 
lege will resolve to enter upon the new 
departure, Allentown will claim the 
honor of furnishing the new adequate 
buildings, and the former students of 
the institution and the Ministerium of 
Pennsylvania provide for the increased 
endowment of the college." 



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